Receptacle for modular circuit element

ABSTRACT

The receptacle includes spaced sides having opposed grooves, each side having a plurality of spaced parallel struts extending rearward of the grooves. The grooves accommodate the lateral edges of a circuit board and guide the circuit board into engagement with a connector extending between the sides. Each end of the connector has a pair of tines that are accommodated by the spaces between the struts, and the tines at one end of the connector include lips that extend behind the struts and secure the connector in place.

United States Patent John Andreini References Cited [72} inventors Kern. Ger. App. No N82, 16, Publ. ll 64 2 sht. dw pp. spec. (copy 3l7 lOl DH) [21] ApplNo. 4,912 [22] Flled 68, 4 sht. dwg.-3

Jan. 22, 1970 Bohm,Ger App. No 1264565, Publ. 3- pp. spec. (copy 317- 10] DH) [45] Patented Aug. 10, 1971 [73] Assignee Bell Telephone Laboratories Murray Hill, NJ.

, Incorporated Primary Examiner-David Smith, Jr. Attorneys-R. J. Guenther and Edwin B. Cave [54] RECEPTACLE FOR MODULAR CIRCUIT Wm 30 2:16 nac wPa a S hww S e Cw-r g f do 6 C W s SmC SUV C d m 2. e .mfmm mw Ch mew ,Jfima 6 m E ma e e r. h mm T C o m A m I R n TdS S w Bmr An. N g .m w. F D 5 Ta NS E.. Mh WC 0 El ...3l7/101Dll, modate the lateral ed ges of a circuit board and guide the cir- 21 l/4l. 339/176 MP gagement with a connector extendin 3 Each end of the connector has a pair of modated by the spaces between the struts, end of the connector include lips that exts and secure the connector in place.

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Field of the Invention This invention relates to the field of switchboards and analogous devices and within that field toa receptacle for modular circuit elements.

Description of the Prior Art Receptacles for modular circuit elements, such as printed circuit boards, generally comprise a frame that is open at one end and has opposed parallel guides for receiving the lateral edges of a circuit board and for directing the board into engagement with an electrical connector extending between the guides.

One of the major deficiencies of the receptacles of the prior art has been the expense of assembling them. The sides of the frame have had to be fastened together, and/or the guides have had to be individually located, and/or the connectors have had to be fastened into place.

Each of these operations, while inconsequential when taken on a single element basis, becomes very significant when dealing with thousands of elements. And in the production of computer and telephone equipment, literally millions of such elements are involved. Consequently, with the cost of labor becoming an ever increasing factor in the expenseof manufacturing equipment, it becomes exceedingly advantageous to reduce both the number of assembling operations and the time required for each operation to a minimum.

Summary of the Invention A receptacle embodying the present invention comprises a rectangular frame that is formed as a single integral unit. The front and back of the frame is open and the interior surfaces of the two opposed sides include a plurality of uniformly spaced parallel grooves. The sides also include a plurality of spaced parallel struts located to the rear of the grooves. Each strut is in line with an individual groove, and connectors are mounted between the struts of the two sides. 7

Each end of the connector includes a pair of tines that extend into the spaces on either side of a strut, and a slot between the tine that accommodates the strut. The tines at a first end of each connector are of a size to substantially occupy the spaces while the tines at the second end are thinner and more flexible and just occupy the far portion of each space. In addition, the tines at the second end include lips extending laterally away from one another and bosses extending laterally toward one another, the distance between the facing surfaces of the lips and the bosses being slightly greater than the height of the struts.

As a result of the above described configuration of the frame and the connector, the assembling of the receptacle is a very simple task. No time is spent in assembling the sides of the frame or in locating the guides. In addition, each connector is mounted by merely inserting the tines at the first end of the connector into the spaces on either side of a selected strut, and then moving the tines of the second end into the directly opposite spaces until the bosses engage the strut being straddled, the lip at the same time moving behind the adjacent struts.

The connector is captured in the frame in alignment with the grooves directly in front of the selected struts so that a circuit board inserted into the grooves is guided into engagement with the connector. In addition, the connector is provided with a degree of freedom that permits it to move to adjust to dimensional variations in the circuit boards, the frame, and the connector due to manufacturing tolerances.

Description of the Drawing 1 present invention;

- FIG. 2 is a partial perspective viewof the receptacle showing the first step inthe insertion of the connector into the frame; w

FIG. 3 is' a partial perspective view of the'receptacle showing a further step in the insertion of the connector into the frame; I r

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the receptacle showing the final step in the insertion of the connector into the frame; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the connector looking toward the front of the frame and showing the connector mounted in the frame.

Detailed Description of an Illustrative Embodiment Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the receptacle comprises a rectangular unitary frame 10 having sides 12, 14, I6, and 18 and an open front and back. The interior surfaces of the sides 14 and 18 include a number of equally spaced parallel guides or grooves 20, some of which are continuous and some of which are interrupted by openings '22 extending through the sides, and the grooves of one side are in registration with the grooves of the other. The sides 14 and 18 also include a number of parallel struts 25 separated by spaces 26, an individual strut extending to the rear of and in line with each groove 20.

A plurality of connectors 30, only one of which is shown, are mounted between the sides 14 and 18 of the frame 10. The front of each connector 30 includes a group of spaced contacts 32 each of which has a rearwardly extending terminal 34 to which a lead wire is connectable. The contacts 32 are adapted to establish an electrical connection with contacts on a modular circuit element such as a printed circuit board (not shown), and the width of the grooves 20 and the distance between the roots of opposed grooves are such as to accommodate the lateral edges of the circuit board. Furthermore, the struts 25 and spaces 26 locate each connector 30 behind a pair of opposed grooves 20 so that the grooves guide the contacts of the circuit board into engagement with the contacts 32 of the connector. The openings 22 that interrupt the grooves 20 serve to permit the convective movement of air over the faces of the circuit boards to prevent the buildup of heat within the frame 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, the upper end of each connector 30 has a pair of tines 35 separated by a slot 36 and the lower end of each connector has a pairof tines 38 separated by a slot 40. The tines 35 are of a size to substantially occupy both the length and the breadth of two adjacent spaces 26 of the frame 10, while the slot 36 is of a size to accommodate the strut 25 between the spaces. The depth of the slot 36 greatly exceeds the height of the struts 25, and the distance between the bottom of the slot and the lower ends of the tines 38 is less than the distance between the interior surface of the struts of the sides 14 and the interior surface of the struts of the side 18. The distance between the upperend of the tines 35 and the lower end of the tines 38, on the other hand, is greater than the distance between the exterior surfaceof the struts 25 of the side 14 and the exterior surface of the struts of the side 18.

The tines 38 are relatively thin and flexible and although they substantially occupy the entire length of two adjacent spaces 26 they only occupy the remote portions of the breadth; In addition, the tines 38 have rectangular bosses 42 that extend toward one another intermediate the ends of the tines and lips 44 that extend in opposite directions from one another at the free ends of the tines. The underside of each lip 44 consists of a curved cam surface 45 while the top of each lip consists of a flat latching surface 46, and the distance between the latching surfaces and the bottom surfaces of the bosses 42 is slightly greater than the height of the struts 25.

As a result of the above relationships each connector 30 is inserted into the frame 10 by first selecting the two opposed grooves 20 that the connector is to be associated with and then placing the tines 35 into the two spaces 26 of the side 14 that straddle the strut 25 in line withthe selected grooves. As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 30 is moved upward until the strut 25 engages the bottom'of the slot 36, after which the lower end of the connector is swung toward the front of the frame to place the tines 38 in juxtaposition with the spaces 26 in the side 18 corresponding to those occupied by the tines 35.

The connector 30 is then moved downward, bringing the cam surfaces 45 of the lips 44 into engagement with the adjacent struts of either side of the straddled strut. Further downward movement of the connector results in the tines 38 being deflected toward one another by the interaction of the cam surfaces 45 with the adjacent struts 25, and in this deflected condition the tines are able to move through the selected spaces 26. As shown in FIG. 4, downward movement of the connector 30 continues until the bosses 42 engage the straddled strut 25, whereupon as shown in FIG. 5, the lips 44 clear the exterior surface of the adjacent struts. The tines 38 are then able to return to their normal position and in so doing the latching surfaces 46 of the lips 44 are moved behind the adjacent struts 25 to secure the connector 30 in place.

In addition to being quick and easy, this method of mounting the connectors 3.0 has the added advantage of not holding theconnectors completely immobile as is the usual case when connectors are secured by fasteners. Thus the connectors 30 have a small degree of movement both up and down and right and left, and therefore the connectors are able to adjust to any variations in the circuit boards, the frame, or the connectors themselves due to manufacturing tolerances. Should it be desirable to remove a connector 30 from the frame 10, this is accomplished by merely deflecting the tines 38 toward one another and then reversing the insertion procedure.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that it is but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A receptacle for a rectangular modular circuit element, the receptacle comprising;

a pair of spaced frame members having opposed guides for accommodating lateral edges of the circuit element, the frame'members each having a plurality of spaced struts rearward of the guides, the struts of each frame member having an interior surface facing the struts of the other frame member and an exterior surface facing in the opposite direction;

a connector extending between the frame members, the connector including means for establishing an electrical connection with the circuit element, each end of the connector having a pair of tines and a slot therebetween, the distance between the bottom of the slot at one end of the connector and the ends of the tines at the other end ofthe connector being less than the distance between the interior. surface of the struts of one frame member and the interior surface of the struts of the other frame member, the tines at each end extending into the spaces on either side of a strutof the associated frame member and the slot accommodating the strut therein, the struts locating the connector in alignment with the guides of the frame members.

2. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the tines at one end of the connector are of a size to substantially occupy the spaces on either side of the strut of the associated frame member.

3. A receptacle as, in claim 1 wherein the struts extend parallel to the guides and are equally spaced from on another.

4. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the tines includes a lip that extends behind the exterior surface of a struts. v

5. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the tines at one end of the connector are flexible and each has a lip that extends behind the exterior surface of an ad'acent strut.

6. The receptacle as in claim wherein each tine of the one end further includes a laterally extending boss, the bosses extending toward one another intermediate the ends of the tines.

7. The receptacle as in claim 6 wherein the distance between the adjacent surfaces of the boss and the'lip of each tine is slightly greater than the distance between the interior and exterior surfaces of the adjacent struts. I

8. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the distance between the ends of the connector is greater than the distance between the exterior surface of the struts of one frame member and the exterior surface of the struts of the other frame member.

9. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the frame members are two opposed sides of a rectangular frame that is formed as a single integral unit, and the guides comprise grooves formed in the interior surfaces of the frame members.

10. A receptacle for a rectangular modular circuit element, the receptacle comprising:

a rectangular unitary frame, the interior surfaces of two opposed of the frame having a plurality of equally spaced parallel grooves for accommodating the lateral edges of the circuit element, the two opposed sides also having a plurality of spaced parallel struts, an individual strut extending to the rear of and in line with each groove, the struts of each frame member having an interior surface facing the struts of the other frame member and an exterior surface facing in the opposite direction;

a connector extending between the struts of the two opposed sides of the frame, the connector including means for establishing an electrical connection with the circuit element, each end of the connector having a pair of tines and a slot therebetween, the distance between the bottom of the slot at one end of the connector and the ends of the tines at the other end of the connector being less than the distance between the interior surface of the struts of one strut and having a lip at the free ends thereof extending adjacent to the exterior surface of a strut, and the distance between the adjacent su faces of the boss and lip of each tine being slightly greater than the height of the struts. 

1. A receptacle for a rectangular modular circuit element, the receptacle comprising; a pair of spaced frame members having opposed guides for accommodating lateral edges of the circuit element, the frame members each having a plurality of spaced struts rearward of the guides, the struts of each frame member having an interior surface facing the struts of the other frame member and an exterior surface facing in the opposite direction; a connector extending between the frame members, the connector including means for establishing an electrical connection with the circuit element, each end of the connector having a pair of tines and a slot therebetween, the distance between the bottom of the slot at one end of the connector and the Ends of the tines at the other end of the connector being less than the distance between the interior surface of the struts of one frame member and the interior surface of the struts of the other frame member, the tines at each end extending into the spaces on either side of a strut of the associated frame member and the slot accommodating the strut therein, the struts locating the connector in alignment with the guides of the frame members.
 2. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the tines at one end of the connector are of a size to substantially occupy the spaces on either side of the strut of the associated frame member.
 3. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the struts extend parallel to the guides and are equally spaced from one another.
 4. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the tines includes a lip that extends behind the exterior surface of a struts.
 5. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the tines at one end of the connector are flexible and each has a lip that extends behind the exterior surface of an adjacent strut.
 6. The receptacle as in claim 5 wherein each tine of the one end further includes a laterally extending boss, the bosses extending toward one another intermediate the ends of the tines.
 7. The receptacle as in claim 6 wherein the distance between the adjacent surfaces of the boss and the lip of each tine is slightly greater than the distance between the interior and exterior surfaces of the adjacent struts.
 8. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the distance between the ends of the connector is greater than the distance between the exterior surface of the struts of one frame member and the exterior surface of the struts of the other frame member.
 9. A receptacle as in claim 1 wherein the frame members are two opposed sides of a rectangular frame that is formed as a single integral unit, and the guides comprise grooves formed in the interior surfaces of the frame members.
 10. A receptacle for a rectangular modular circuit element, the receptacle comprising: a rectangular unitary frame, the interior surfaces of two opposed sides of the frame having a plurality of equally spaced parallel grooves for accommodating the lateral edges of the circuit element, the two opposed sides also having a plurality of spaced parallel struts, an individual strut extending to the rear of and in line with each groove, the struts of each frame member having an interior surface facing the struts of the other frame member and an exterior surface facing in the opposite direction; a connector extending between the struts of the two opposed sides of the frame, the connector including means for establishing an electrical connection with the circuit element, each end of the connector having a pair of tines and a slot therebetween, the distance between the bottom of the slot at one end of the connector and the ends of the tines at the other end of the connector being less than the distance between the interior surface of the struts of one frame member and the interior surface of the struts of the other frame member, the slot at each end accommodating a strut and the tines extending into the openings on either side thereof, the tines at one end being of a size to substantially occupy the spaces, each tine at the other end being flexible and having a boss intermediate the ends thereof extending adjacent to the interior surface of a strut and having a lip at the free ends thereof extending adjacent to the exterior surface of a strut, and the distance between the adjacent surfaces of the boss and lip of each tine being slightly greater than the height of the struts. 